AIB man denies Gilmartin claims

RETIRED senior banker Eddie Kay yesterday rounded on businessman Tom Gilmartin for suggesting he was “suddenly moved” from AIB’s corporate banking division for exposing payments to lobbyist Frank Dunlop.

“It supports Mr Gilmartin’s conspiracy theories,” Mr Kay told the Mahon Tribunal on his third day of testimony. He said he could prove the developer was absolutely mistaken in his belief.

Mr Kay said he was incensed when he read what Mr Gilmartin had said about him; it was damaging to his reputation, gained over 40 years, and was untrue.

“I was not transferred unwillingly. I applied for a job — and it can be proved,” said Mr Kay.

Explaining the bank role transfer, he said his old job in the corporate banking division was virtually a 24-hour one and the new one was an easier life and he got substantially more salary.

Objecting to the line of questioning by tribunal lawyer Patricia Dillon SC, AIB lawyer Richard Nesbitt SC said there was an attempt to damage the witness.

But tribunal chairman, Judge Alan Mahon, insisted the questioning allowed Mr Kay to emphatically state his position. He added that Mr Gilmartin had put forward no proof for his statement.

Earlier the tribunal heard Mr Gilmartin did not know Mr Dunlop had received IR£80,000 in connection with the Quarryvale development for more than a year after the payment was made.

Mr Kay — who was overseeing a multi-million pound loan for the west Dublin venture for property developer Owen O’Callaghan and Mr Gilmartin — said he himself was not aware until early 1992 the Dunlop payments had been made the previous year.

Mr Kay said he had not withheld information from Mr Gilmartin and if the businessman had asked about individual payments he would have been told.

Mr Kay said he did not think there was any deliberate attempt by the bank to conceal the Shefran payments from Mr Gilmartin.